Touch controller, electronic device and display device including touch controller, and touch sensing method

ABSTRACT

A touch sensing device includes a touch screen panel including a touch sensor configured to generate a first electrical change corresponding to a touch and a touch controller configured to detect touch position data with respect to an area on the touch screen panel associated with the touch, based on the first electrical change of the touch sensor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §120/121 to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/332,520 filedJul. 16, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2013-0121504, filed on Oct. 11, 2013, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the entire contents of each ofthese applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Some inventive concepts relate to a touch controller, a display deviceand an electronic device including the touch controller, and/or a touchsensing method.

SUMMARY

Some inventive concepts provide a touch controller capable of improvingtouch sensitivity, a display device and an electronic device includingthe touch controller, and a touch sensing method.

Some inventive concepts provide a touch controller that is capable ofoperating with low power consumption, a display device and an electronicdevice including the touch controller, and a touch sensing method

According to an example embodiment of inventive concepts, there isprovided a touch sensing device including a touch screen panel includinga touch sensor configured to generate a first electrical changecorresponding to a touch and a touch controller configured to detecttouch position data with respect to an area on the touch screen panel inwhich the touch is generated, based on the first electrical change ofthe touch sensor, the touch controller including, a first detection unitconfigured to detect the first electrical change in the touch sensor ina first mode as a plurality of pieces of candidate position data withrespect to an area where at least two hoverings are generated and asecond detection unit configured to detect a second electrical change inat least one area of the touch sensor corresponding to the plurality ofpieces of candidate position data in a second mode that is differentfrom the first mode, to select the touch position data with respect tothe at least two hoverings based on the second electrical change.

According to an example embodiment of inventive concepts, there isprovided a touch sensing device including a touch screen panelcomprising a touch sensor in which an electrical change corresponding toa touch is generated and a touch controller for receiving the electricalchange by applying a driving voltage to the touch sensor and outputtingdata corresponding to an area where the touch is generated, wherein in ahovering mode, the touch controller primarily processes the electricalchange corresponding to the touch in a single touch mode, andsecondarily processes the electrical change corresponding to the touchin a multi-touch mode.

According to another example embodiment of inventive concepts, there isprovided a display device including a touch screen panel including asensing array having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columnsconnected to a plurality of sensing units, the sensing array configuredto generate a change in capacitance in areas of the sensing arraycorresponding to a plurality of concurrently generated hoverings and atouch controller configured to detect a plurality of pieces of candidateposition data based on a first reception voltage corresponding to thechange in capacitance in a single touch mode, process the plurality ofpieces of candidate position data in a multi-touch mode, and detecttouch position data with respect to an area of the sensing arraycorresponding to each of the plurality of hoverings.

According to another example embodiment of inventive concepts, there isprovided a touch sensing method including determining whether a hoveringis generated with respect to a touch screen panel, extracting touchposition data including a ghost, with respect to the hovering, in asingle touch mode based on the determining, removing the ghost from thetouch position data in a multi-touch mode, based on the touch positiondata extracted in the single touch mode and processing the touchposition data from which the ghost is removed, as position data withrespect to the hovering.

At least one example embodiment discloses a touch sensing deviceincluding a touch panel including a plurality of sensing circuits, theplurality of sensing circuits configured to generate sensing signals inresponse to a driving voltage and a touch controller configured to applythe driving voltage to the sensing circuits in a first mode and applythe driving voltage to at most a portion of the sensing circuits in asecond mode based on the sensing signals

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of inventive concepts will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a touch sensing device accordingto an example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 2 illustrates a touch sensor of FIG. 1 according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 3 is a diagram to explain a change in capacitance due to a touchwhen a mutual capacitive touch screen panel is used;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a variation in capacitance according to atouch;

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a display device including the touchsensing device of FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a display device including the touchsensing device of FIG. 1, according to another example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIG. 7A is a diagram to explain a first detection unit of FIG. 1operating in a single touch mode, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIG. 7B is a diagram to explain a detection object of the firstdetection unit of FIG. 7A, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIG. 8 is a diagram to explain an operation of switches of FIG. 7Aaccording to an example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 9A illustrates a signal processing unit that is further included inthe first detection unit of FIG. 7A, according to an example embodimentof inventive concepts;

FIG. 9B is a diagram to explain an operating principle of the signalprocessing unit of FIG. 9A, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIG. 10 illustrates candidate position data with respect to a hoveringaccording to an example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 11 illustrates candidate position data with respect to a hoveringaccording to another example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIGS. 12 and 13A are diagrams to explain a second detection unit of FIG.1 operating in a multi-touch mode, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIGS. 13B and 13C illustrate a sensing operation in the multi-touch modeof FIG. 13A, according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of FIG. 1 withrespect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 15 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of FIG. 1 withrespect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 16 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of FIG. 1 withrespect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 17 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit of FIG. 1 withrespect to candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 18 illustrates a signal processing unit of the second detectionunit of FIG. 12 according to an example embodiment of inventiveconcepts;

FIG. 19 is a diagram to explain an operation of the signal processingunit of FIG. 18 according to an example embodiment of inventiveconcepts;

FIG. 20 illustrates candidate position data that is different from thatof FIG. 13A, according to another example embodiment of inventiveconcepts;

FIG. 21 illustrates a second detection unit that is adaptive to thecandidate position data of FIG. 20, according to an example embodimentof inventive concepts;

FIG. 22 illustrates a touch controller 140 having a structure in whichthe first detection unit and the second detection unit of FIG. 1 arecommonly included;

FIG. 23 is a detailed view illustrating a driving unit and an amplifyingunit of FIG. 22, according to an example embodiment of inventiveconcepts;

FIG. 24 illustrates the touch controller of FIG. 1 according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 25 illustrates the touch sensor of FIG. 1 according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 26 illustrates the touch sensor of FIG. 1 according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a touch sensing method according toan example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 30 illustrates a display device according to an example embodimentof inventive concepts;

FIG. 31 illustrates a relationship between a timing and a power voltagebetween a touch controller and a display driving unit of FIG. 30,according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 32 illustrates a printed circuit board (PCB) structure of a displaydevice mounted with a touch screen panel according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts;

FIG. 33 illustrates a PCB structure in which a touch screen panel and adisplay panel are integrated, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts;

FIG. 34 illustrates a display device mounted with a semiconductor chipincluding a touch controller and a display driving unit, according to anexample embodiment of inventive concepts; and

FIG. 35 illustrates application examples of electronic productsincluding a touch sensing device according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The attached drawings for illustrating example embodiments of inventiveconcepts are referred to in order to gain a sufficient understanding ofinventive concepts, the merits thereof, and the objectives accomplishedby the implementation of inventive concepts. Hereinafter, inventiveconcepts will be described in detail by explaining example embodimentswith reference to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals in thedrawings denote like elements.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “atleast one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire listof elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a touch sensing device 100according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. The touchsensing device 100 includes a touch screen panel 120 and a touchcontroller 140. The touch screen panel 120 generates an electricalchange ECG corresponding to a touch that is generated by contacting orapproaching the touch screen panel 120. The electrical change ECG may besensed in response to a driving voltage DV applied by using the touchcontroller 140. The electrical change ECG may be transmitted to thetouch controller 140 as a sensing value SEN.

Hereinafter, a touch generated by contacting the touch screen panel 120will be referred to as a contact touch. Also, a touch generated byapproaching the touch screen panel 120 but not actually touching it,that is, a touch generated at a distance spatially apart from the touchscreen panel 120 will be referred to as a hovering. The touch screenpanel 120 includes a touch sensor 122 that generates an electricalchange ECG with respect to a contact touch or a hovering.

FIG. 2 illustrates the touch sensor 122 of FIG. 1 according to anexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,the touch sensor 122 may include a sensing array SARY including aplurality or rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn, to which a plurality of sensingunits SU are electrically connected, and a plurality of columns C1, C2,. . . , Cm, to which a plurality of sensing units SU are electricallyconnected. The touch sensor 122 may be a mutual capacitive touch sensorin which the sensing units SU generate a change in capacitance,according to a touch.

FIG. 3 is a diagram to explain a change in capacitance due to a touchwhen a mutual capacitance touch screen panel is used. Referring to FIG.3, according to a mutual capacitance method, a voltage pulse is appliedto a driving electrode, and a charge corresponding to a voltage pulse iscollected by a receive electrode. When the finger of a person is placedbetween two electrodes, an electrical field (dotted line) is changed. Achange in the electrical field causes a change in capacitance. AlthoughFIG. 3 illustrates a contact touch, a hovering also causes a change inan electrical field. Also, although a contact touch by the finger isillustrated in FIG. 3, a change in an electrical field is also generateddue to a touch via other conductors such as a touch pen.

Capacitance between electrodes is changed by a change in an electricalfield between two electrodes, and a touch is sensed based on the changein the electrical field. However, example embodiments of inventiveconcepts are not limited thereto. While FIG. 3 illustrates that a changein an electrical field due to a touch is sensed by a receive electrode,a change in capacitance may also be sensed from both electrodes.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a variation in capacitance according to atouch. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, each of the sensing units SU has aparasitic capacitance component Cb. For example, each of the sensingunits SU may have a parasitic capacitance component Cb including ahorizontal parasitic capacitance component generated between adjacentsensing units and a vertical parasitic capacitance component betweenarbitrary electrodes (e.g., a common voltage electrode or a groundvoltage electrode). The vertical parasitic capacitance component will bedescribed in further detail.

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a display device 500 including the touchsensing device 100 of FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 5, the display device 500 mayinclude a display panel 520 and a touch screen panel 120. The displaydevice 500 may be, for example, a liquid crystal device (LCD), a fieldemission display device (FED), an organic light emitting display (OLED),or a plasma display device (PDP). The display panel 520 may have astructure and may be formed of a material corresponding to a type of thedisplay device 500.

To provide process or price competitiveness, the touch screen panel 120may be integrated with the display panel 520 of the display device 500.FIG. 5 illustrates the touch screen panel 120 mounted on the displaypanel 520. However, example embodiments of inventive concepts are notlimited thereto, and the touch screen panel 120 may also be disposedunder the display panel 520. For convenience of description, an examplein which the touch screen panel 120 is disposed on the display panel 520will be described. The touch screen panel 120 may be spaced apart fromthe display panel 520 by a distance or may be attached to an upper plateof the display panel 520. For example, when the display panel 520 is aliquid crystal display panel, the upper plate of the display panel 520may include a common voltage electrode 522. In this case, a verticalparasitic capacitance component Cv may be formed between each of thesensing units SU and the common voltage electrode 522. However, exampleembodiments of inventive concepts are not limited thereto, and avertical parasitic capacitance component Cv may also be formed betweeneach of the sensing units SU and a ground voltage electrode included inthe touch screen panel 120.

While FIG. 5 illustrates an On-cell type display in which the displaypanel 520 is included as panel or a layer that is separate from thetouch screen panel 120, example embodiments of inventive concepts arenot limited thereto.

FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a display device 600 including the touchsensing device 100 of FIG. 1, according to another example embodiment ofinventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 6, the display device 600 may bean In-Cell type display in which display pixels DPX used in displayingand sensing units SU used in sensing a touch are formed in the samelayer.

While FIG. 6 illustrates an arrangement in which the same number ofdisplay pixels DPX and the same number of sensing units SU arealternately arranged on a common panel, other arrangements may beimplemented. Unlike FIG. 6, more display pixels DPX may be included thansensing units SU. Alternatively, display pixels DPX and sensing units SUmay be arranged in a different arrangement from that of FIG. 6. Also,each of the display pixels DPX of FIG. 6 may include R, G, and B pixels.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 again, in the sensing array SARY including aparasitic capacitance as described above, a capacitance Csen of thesensing unit SU may have a value Cb corresponding to a parasiticcapacitance in a section A of FIG. 4 where no touch is generated. Asection B of FIG. 4 denotes an example where a conductive material hascontacted the sensing unit SU. In this case, a capacitance(Csen′=Cb+Csig) increases as the parasitic capacitance component Cb anda capacitance component Csig generated between the finger and the touchscreen panel 120 are additionally generated.

However, example embodiments of inventive concepts are not limitedthereto. While FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which capacitanceincreases due to a touch, the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1 mayalso be designed such that capacitance decreases due to a touch. Forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 3, as a portion of an electrical fieldformed between a driving electrode and a receive electrode is blockeddue to a touch, capacitance that is proportional to an intensity of anelectrical field may be reduced. In this case, the touch sensing device100 may perceive this as a touch generated in a section of the sensingarray SARY where capacitance decreases.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, in response to the change in capacitance asdescribed above, the touch controller 140 detects touch position dataTPD with respect to an area on the touch screen panel 120 where a touchis generated is generated. The touch position data TPD, that is, thearea where a touch is generated, may be represented as a position of atleast one sensing unit SU on the sensing array SARY of FIG. 2.Hereinafter, a structure and operation of the touch controller 140 willbe described in further detail.

The touch controller 140 includes a first detection unit 142 and asecond detection unit 144. If at least two hoverings occur with respectto the touch screen panel 120, the first detection unit 142 detects anelectrical change ECG of the touch sensor 122 in a first mode, as aplurality of pieces of candidate position data CPD with respect to eachhovering. The second detection unit 144 detects an electrical change inan area of the touch sensor 122 corresponding to the plurality of piecesof candidate position data CPD in a second mode different from the firstmode to select the touch position data TPD with respect to the at leasttwo hoverings.

The first mode is a touch sensing mode in which a sensing sensitivitywith respect to a hovering is higher than the second mode, and thesecond mode may be a touch sensing mode in which more touches may besensed at a time than in the first mode. For example, the first mode maybe a single touch mode in which only a single touch is recognized at atime, and the second mode may be a multi-touch mode in which multipletouches are sensed at a time. The single touch mode may use a touchsensing method in which a change in capacitance between the sensing unitSU and an arbitrary electrode is sensed. A multi-touch mode may use amutual touch sensing method in which a change in capacitance betweenadjacent sensing units SU of FIG. 2 due to a touch is sensed.

The multi-touch mode is a mode in which concurrent touches may besensed, and in the present specification, concurrent touches refer totouches that are physically concurrent with respect to the touch screenpanel 120 or multiple touches that are concurrent in terms of anoperating timing even though there is a time difference. In addition,the same applies to “simultaneous” used in the present specification.For example, in regard to the description with reference to FIG. 8 ofswitches SWR1, SWR2, . . . , SWRn, SWC1, SWC2, . . . , SWCm of FIG. 7Abeing simultaneously turned on, it may indicate that the switches areeither physically simultaneously turned on or the touch controller 140may process the switches by treating them as being simultaneously turnedon.

FIG. 7A is a diagram to explain the first detection unit 142 of FIG. 1operating in a single touch mode. FIG. 7B is a diagram to explain adetection object of the first detection unit 142 of FIG. 7A. First,referring to FIGS. 2 and 7A, the first detection unit 142 may include anoperating unit OU connected to each of rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and eachof columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY. Alternatively,it may also be described that each operating unit OU is respectivelyconnected to each of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and each of the columnsC1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY through channels connectedto the each of rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and the each of columns C1, C2, .. . , Cm of the sensing arrays SARY. Each operating unit OU includes adriver, a switch, and an amplifying unit.

For example, the operating unit OU connected to a first row R1 will bedescribed. The operating unit OU connected to the first row R1 includesa driver DRV, a switch SWR1, and an amplifying unit AMP. The driver DRVapplies a driving voltage DV to the first row R1 that is electricallyconnected to the operating unit OU. The driving voltage DV may beapplied as a voltage pulse. The driver DRV may be electrically connectedto the first row R1 when a switch SWR1 is turned on.

The amplifying unit AMP outputs an output value OUTR1 corresponding to asensing value SEN obtained by sensing a change in capacitance of thefirst row R1 as the driving voltage DV is applied to the first row R1.The output value OUTR1 has different values according to whether ahovering is generated in the first row R1. The amplifying unit AMP maybe a charge AMP that converts the output value OUTR1 into a voltagevalue and amplifies the voltage value according to capacitance of thefirst row R1. A capacitor Cr and a resistor Rr may be connected inparallel between a first input end (e.g., an inverse terminal) and anoutput terminal of the amplifying unit AMP. While not illustrated inFIG. 7A, noise of the output value OUTR1 of the amplifying unit AMP maybe removed using a filter, and the output value OUTR1 from which noiseis removed may be output as a digital value, by using an analog-digitalconverter.

A structure and operation of the operating unit OU connected to otherrows R2, . . . , Rn and the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensingarray SARY may be the same as the structure and operation of theoperating unit OU connected to the first row R1. For example, theoperating unit OU connected to the first column C1 includes a driverDRV, a switch SWC1, and an amplifying unit AMP. The driver DRV applies adriving voltage DV to the first column C1, when a switch SWC1 is turnedon. The amplifying unit AMP outputs a change in capacitance of the firstcolumn C1 as an output value OUTC1 corresponding to a sensing value SENobtained by sensing the change, according to application of the drivingvoltage DV to the first column C1. That is, when a change Csig incapacitance is generated by a hovering in sensing electrodes asillustrated in FIG. 7B by an operation of the first detection unit 142of FIG. 7A, an output value OUTC1 corresponding to the change Csig isoutput.

FIG. 8 is a diagram to explain an operation of switches of FIG. 7Aaccording to an example embodiment of inventive concepts. As illustratedin FIG. 8, the switches SWR1, SWR2, . . . , SWRn, and SWC1, SWC2, . . ., SWCm included in each operating unit OU of the first detection unit142 may be simultaneously turned on. That is, a driving voltage DV maybe simultaneously applied to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all columnsC1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY. Thus, each operating unitOU may simultaneously output a sensing value SEN with respect to aconnected row or a connected column as an output value OUTR1, OUTR2, . .. , or OUTRn or OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . , or OUTCm.

FIG. 9A illustrates a signal processing unit 142_2 that is furtherincluded in the first detection unit 142 of FIG. 7A according to anexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and9A, the signal processing unit 142_2 receives respective output valuesOUTR1, OUTR2, . . . , and OUTRn, and respective output values OUTC1,OUTC2, . . . , and OUTCm of operating units OU with respect to therespective rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and the respective columns C1, C2, .. . , Cm of the sensing array SARY to thereby output candidate positiondata CPD with respect to each hovering. That is, the candidate positiondata CPD may be a result of signal processing on the output value OUTR1,OUTR2, . . . , or OUTRn or OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . , or OUTCm of eachoperating unit OU. However, the candidate position data CPD may also bea result of signal processing performed on a value obtained by filteringthe output value of each operating unit OU or by performinganalog-digital conversion on the output value of each operating unit OUby using a filter or an analog-digital converter.

For example, the signal processing unit 142_2 may compare voltages ofthe output values OUTR1, OUTR2, . . . , OUTRn of the operating unit OUof each of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn of the sensing array SARY todetect a row that is included in an area where a hovering is generated.Also, the signal processing unit 142_2 may compare voltages of outputvalues OUTC1, OUTC2, . . . , OUTCm of the operating unit OU of each ofthe columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY to detect acolumn included in an area corresponding to a hovering. FIG. 9B is adiagram to explain an operating principle of the signal processing unitof FIG. 9A. For example, referring to FIG. 9B, the signal processingunit 142_2 may interpolate a profile with respect to an x-axis (rowaxis) and a profile with respect to a y-axis (column axis) and detect arow and a column included in an area where a hovering is generated.According to this operation, the signal processing unit 142_2 may outputan area where the detected row and the detected column cross each otheras candidate position data (CPD) corresponding to the hovering.

FIG. 10 illustrates candidate position data CPD with respect to ahovering according to an example embodiment of inventive concepts.Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, the number of pieces of the candidateposition data CPD generated by using the first detection unit 142 maycorrespond to the number of generated hoverings. For example, when Nhoverings are generated, 2N pieces of candidate position data CPD may bedetected. For example, if a hovering is generated by four fingers(marked with circles) as illustrated in FIG. 10, that is, if fourhoverings HOV1, HOV2, HOV3, and HOV4 are generated, the first detectionunit 142 may detect sixteen pieces of candidate position data CPD.

The candidate position data CPD includes not only hoverings HOV1, HOV2,HOV3, and HOV4 that are actually generated, but also data comprising aghost marked X. A ghost refers to an event that is processed as a touchor a hovering although it is not actually a generated touch or hovering.In the example of FIG. 10, sixteen pieces of candidate position data CPDwith respect to actually generated four hoverings HOV1, HOV2, HOV3, andHOV4 and twelve ghosts are generated. As described above, according tothe first detection unit 142 having a structure as illustrated in FIGS.7A and 8, a sensing operation is performed with respect to all rows R1,R2, . . . , Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing arraySARY, from a row where an actually generated hovering is generated, aplurality of pieces of candidate position data CPD may be calculated byanother hovering generated in another row.

In FIG. 10, from among the concurrently generated hoverings, a firsthovering HOV1 is generated at an intersection point between a second rowR2 and a third column C3, and three ghosts of the second row R2 aredetected in a column where second through fourth hoverings HOV2 throughHOV4 are generated. For example, a first ghost GHS1 of the second row R2is detected from an intersection point with respect to the first columnC1 where the second hovering HOV2 is generated. That is, when a sensingoperation is concurrently performed with respect to all rows R1, R2, . .. , Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cn of the sensing array SARY, thefirst detection unit 142 perceives this as four separate hoveringsgenerated with respect to four rows and four columns regarding the fourhoverings. Thus, the first detection unit 142 detects sixteen pieces ofcandidate position data CPD with respect to the intersection points ofthe respective rows and the respective columns.

FIG. 11 illustrates candidate position data with respect to a hoveringaccording to another example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referringto FIGS. 1 and 11, when one hovering HOV1 is generated, although asensing operation is performed with respect to all rows R1, R2, . . . ,Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY, thefirst detection unit 142 perceives this as a hovering generated only ata single row and a single column with respect to the one hovering HOV1,and thus, a ghost is not recognized. As described above, a detailedoperation of the touch controller 140 in the case where a singlehovering is generated will be described in detail later.

For reference, in FIGS. 10 and 11, an area indicated by the candidateposition data CPD is illustrated with an intersection point between arow and a column. However, as described above, a hovering may begenerated in an area including at least two rows or at least twocolumns. Accordingly, the candidate position data CPD may be data withrespect to an area including at least two rows or at least two columns.

Also, in FIGS. 10 and 11, a sensing array SARY having a differentstructure from that of FIG. 2 is illustrated. In the sensing array SARYof FIG. 2, the sensing units SU of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and thecolumns C1, C2, . . . , Cm may be formed in the same layer, and thesensing of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn may be connected one another viajumpers, and the sensing units SU of the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm maybe connected to one another via jumpers. On the other hand, the sensingarray SARY of FIG. 10 may be an orthogonal sensing array in which areaswhere electrodes formed in different layers perpendicularly cross oneanother operate as sensing units SU. The sensing array SARY may be oneof the sensing arrays SARY of FIG. 2 and FIG. 10. Furthermore, thesensing array SARY may have a different structure from that of thesensing array FIG. 2 or FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the second detection unit 144 removes a ghostfrom the candidate position data CPD based on the candidate positiondata CPD detected using the first detection unit 142 to thereby detecttouch position data TPD with respect to an actual hovering. The seconddetection unit 144 may detect the touch position data TPD in a secondmode that is different from the first mode. As described above, thefirst mode may be a single touch mode, and the second touch mode may bea multi-touch mode.

FIGS. 12 and 13A are diagrams to explain the second detection unit 144of FIG. 1 operating in a multi-touch mode, according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1, 12, and 13A, thesecond detection unit 144 may include a candidate position dataprocessing unit 144_2, a driving unit 144_4, an amplifying unit 144_6,and a signal processing unit 144_8. The candidate position dataprocessing unit 144_2 may provide the driving unit 144_4 with rowinformation Rinf of the sensing array SARY corresponding to thecandidate position data CPD and column information Cinf of the sensingarray SARY corresponding to the candidate position data CPD.

The driving unit 144_4 and the amplifying unit 144_6 operate in amulti-touch mode. In detail, a driving voltage DV is applied to a row ofthe sensing array SARY by using the driving unit 144_4, and a change incapacitance caused between a sensing unit SU of a corresponding row andan adjacent sensing unit SU, by the driving voltage DV applied to therow, is transferred to the amplifying unit 144_6 through an arbitrarycolumn of the corresponding row. For example, as illustrated in FIG.13B, the driving unit 144_4 may be sequentially activated tosequentially scan a row. Intercapacitance between an activated row andeach column is detected by using the amplifying unit 144_6. For example,as illustrated in FIG. 13C, as an electrical field is blocked at anintersection point between a row and a column at a position where ahovering is generated, intercapacitance between the activated row andthe each column may be reduced, and the amplifying unit 144_6 detectsthis change.

The driving unit 144_4 may include a plurality of drivers DRVrespectively connected to the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn of the sensingarray SARY. The drivers DRV of the driving unit 144_4 may berespectively connected to the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn through atransmission channel Tx. In response to the row information Rinf, thedriving unit 144_4 activates a driver DRV connected to a rowcorresponding to the candidate position data CPD among the plurality ofdrivers DRV connected to the row. The activated driver DRV may apply adriving voltage DV to the connected row.

FIGS. 13B and 13C illustrate a sensing operation in the multi-touch modeof FIG. 13A according to example embodiments of inventive concepts.

The amplifying unit 144_6 may include a plurality of amplifying unitsAMP respectively connected to the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of thesensing array SARY. The amplifying units AMP of the amplifying unit144_6 may be respectively connected to the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cmthrough a reception channel Rx. In response to the column informationCinf, the amplifying unit 144_6 activates an amplifying unit AMPconnected to a column corresponding to the candidate position data CPDamong the plurality of amplifying units AMP respectively connected tothe columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY. The activatedamplifying unit AMP may receive a sensing value SEN from a connectedcolumn, and may output an output value OUT_C corresponding to thesensing value SEN. Although not illustrated in FIG. 13A, the amplifyingunit 144_6 of FIG. 13A may be a charge amp, as illustrated in FIG. 7A,or may further include a capacitor and a resistor that are connected inparallel between a first input end and an output end of the amplifyingunit AMP. Also, although not illustrated in FIG. 13A, like the firstdetection unit 142 of FIG. 7A, the second detection unit 144 may furtherinclude a filter that filters an output value OUT_C of the amplifyingunit 144_6 and/or an analog-digital converter that converts an outputvalue OUT_C or a filtered output value OUT_C to digital data.

Hereinafter, an operation of the second detection unit 144 will bedescribed in further detail, by referring to the example embodimentillustrated in FIG. 13A, in which first through fourth candidateposition data CPD1 through CPD4 are transmitted from the first detectionunit 142 to the second detection unit 144; the first candidate positiondata CPD1 and the second candidate position data CPD2 respectivelydenote areas formed by fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 andtenth through twelfth column C10 through C12 in the second throughfourth columns R2 through R4; and the third candidate position data CPD3and the fourth candidate position data CPD4 respectively denote areasformed by fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 and tenth throughtwelfth column C10 through C12 in the eighth through tenth columns R8through R10.

FIG. 14 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection 144 unit of FIG. 1 withrespect to the candidate position data CPD of FIG. 13A according to anexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 12 through14, the driving unit 144_4 of the second detection unit 144 maysequentially apply a driving voltage DV to the second through fourthrows R2 through R4 and the eighth through tenth rows R8 through R10 inresponse to row information Rinf received from the candidate positiondata processing unit 144_2.

For example, after a driver DRV connected to the second row R2 applies adriving voltage DV to the second row R2, a driver DRV connected to thethird row R3 may apply a driving voltage DV to the third row R3, andthen, a driver DRV connected to the fourth row R4 may apply a drivingvoltage DV to the fourth row R4. Next, after a driver DRV connected tothe eighth row R8 applies a driving voltage DV to the eighth row R8, adriver DRV connected to the ninth row R9 may apply a driving voltage DVto the ninth row R9, and then, a driver DRV connected to the tenth rowR10 may apply a driving voltage DV to the tenth row R10.

In response to the column information Cinf received from the candidateposition data processing nit 144_2, the amplifying unit 144_6 of thesecond detection unit 144 may sequentially receive a sensing value SENfrom the fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 and the tenththrough twelfth columns C10 through C12. For example, after theamplifying unit AMP connected to the fourth column C4 receives a sensingvalue SEN from the fourth column C4, and the amplifying unit AMPreceives a sensing value SEN from the fifth column C5, the amplifyingunit AMP connected to the sixth column C6 may receive a sensing valueSEN from the sixth column C6. Next, after the amplifying unit AMPconnected to the tenth column C10 receives a sensing value SEN from thetenth column C10, and the amplifying unit AMP connected to the eleventhcolumn C11 receives a sensing value SEN from the eleventh column C11,the amplifying unit AMP connected to the twelfth column C12 may receivea sensing value SEN from the twelfth column C12.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, when a driving voltage DV is sequentiallyapplied to the rows, a period of time during which a driving voltage DVis applied to each row may be represented as a first period TD.Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 14, when a sensing value SEN isreceived from the columns, a period of time during which a sensing valueSEN is received with respect to each column may be represented as afirst period of time TD.

Referring to FIG. 12 again, the second detection unit 144 may furtherinclude a signal processing unit 144_8 that receives an output valueOUT_C of the amplifying unit 144_6 to output touch position data TPD.The signal processing unit 144_8 may compare an output value OUT_C withrespect to candidate position data CPD indicating the same row or thesame row group to select touch position data TPD. The signal processingunit 144_8 of the second detection unit 144 will be described in furtherdetail later.

The touch sensing apparatus 100 may generate candidate position data CPDbased on the candidate position data CPD that is sensed in a single(self) touch mode with a good sensing sensitivity, thereby performing anaccurate sensing operation with respect to a hovering for which highsensing sensitivity than a contact touch is required. Also, the touchsensing apparatus 100 may sense in a multi-touch mode regarding just thecandidate position CPD, thereby reducing power consumption. Hereinafter,the operation of the second detection unit 144 according to variousexample embodiments of inventive concepts will be described.

FIG. 15 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 1 withrespect to the candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A,and 15, in response to the row information Rinf received from thecandidate position data processing unit 144_2, the driving unit 144_4 ofthe second detection unit 144 may simultaneously apply a driving voltageDV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 with respect to firstcandidate position data CPD1 and second candidate position data CPD2,and then apply a driving voltage DV to the eighth through tenth rows R8through R10 with respect to the third candidate position data CPD3 andthe fourth candidate position data CPD4.

For example, after the drivers DRV connected to the second throughfourth rows R2 through R4 simultaneously apply a driving voltage DV tothe second through fourth rows R2 through R4, respectively, the driversDRV connected to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 maysimultaneously apply a driving voltage DV to the second through fourthrows R4, respectively. Thus, by increasing a period of time for adriving voltage DV applied to each row, the same operating time may beconsumed overall, but an accurate sensing operation may be performed atthe same time.

A plurality of rows with respect to candidate position data indicatingthe same rows may be referred to as a row group. For example, the secondthrough fourth rows R2 through R4 with respect to the first candidateposition data CPD1 and the second candidate position data CPD2 may bereferred to as a first row group (R2-R4), and the eighth through tenthrows R8 through R10 with respect to the third candidate position dataCPD3 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4 may be referred to as asecond row group (R8-R10).

Furthermore, when referring to FIGS. 12, 13A, and 15, in response to thecolumn information Cinf received from the candidate position dataprocessing unit 144_2, the amplifying unit 144_6 of the second detectionunit 144 may sequentially receive a sensing value SEN from the fourththrough sixth columns C4 through C6 and from the tenth through twelfthcolumns C10 through C12. For example, after the amplifying unit AMPconnected to the fourth column C4 receives a sensing value SEN from thefourth column C4, and the amplifying unit AMP connected to the fifthcolumn C5 receives a sensing value SEN from the fifth column C5, theamplifying unit AMP connected to the sixth column C6 may receive asensing value SEN from the sixth column C6. Next, after the amplifyingunit AMP connected to the tenth column C10 receives a sensing value SENfrom the tenth column C10, and the amplifying unit AMP connected to theeleventh column C11 may receive a sensing value SEN from the eleventhcolumn C11, the amplifying unit AMP connected to the twelfth column C12may receive a sensing value SEN from the twelfth column C12.

FIG. 16 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 12 withrespect to the candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A,and 16, in response to the row information Rinf received from thecandidate position data processing unit 144_2, the driving unit 144_4 ofthe second detection unit 144 may sequentially apply a driving voltageDV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 and the eighththrough tenth rows R8 through R10.

For example, after the driver DRV connected to the second row R2 appliesa driving voltage DV to the second row R2, the driver DRV connected tothe third row R3 may apply a driving voltage DV to the third row R3, andthen the driver DRV connected to the fourth row R4 may apply a drivingvoltage DV to the fourth row R4. Next, after the driver DRV connected tothe eighth row R8 applies a driving voltage DV to the eighth row R8, thedriver DRV connected to the ninth row R9 may apply a driving voltage DVto the ninth row R9, and then the driver DRV connected to the tenth rowR10 may apply a driving voltage DV to the tenth row R10.

In response to the column information Cinf received from the candidateposition data processing unit 144_2, the amplifying unit 144_6 of thesecond detection unit 144 may simultaneously receive a sensing value SENfrom the fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 with respect to thefirst candidate position data CPD1 and the third candidate position dataCPD3, and then may simultaneously receive a sensing value SEN from thetenth through twelfth columns C10 through C12 with respect to the secondcandidate position data CPD2 and the fourth candidate position dataCPD4.

For example, after the amplifying unit AMP connected to the tenththrough twelfth rows C10 through C12 simultaneously applies a sensingvalue SEN to the tenth through twelfth rows C10 through C12,respectively, the amplifying unit AMP connected to the tenth throughtwelfth rows C10 through C12 may simultaneously apply a sensing valueSEN to the tenth through twelfth rows C10 through C12. Thus, byincreasing a period of time for a sensing value SEN applied to each row,the same operating time may be consumed overall, but an accurate sensingoperation may be performed at the same time.

A plurality of columns with respect to candidate position dataindicating the same columns may be referred to as a column group. Forexample, the fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 with respect tothe first candidate position data CPD1 and the second candidate positiondata CPD2 may be referred to as a first column group (C4-C6), and thetenth through twelfth columns C10-C12 with respect to the thirdcandidate position data CPD3 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4may be referred to as a second column group (C10-C12).

FIG. 17 is a timing diagram illustrating operations of a driving unitand an amplifying unit of the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 12 withrespect to the candidate position data of FIG. 13A according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 12, 13A,and 17, in response to the row information Rinf received from thecandidate position data processing unit 144_2, the driving unit 144_4 ofthe second detection unit 144 may simultaneously apply a driving voltageDV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 with respect to thefirst candidate position data CPD1 and the second candidate positiondata CPD2, and then may simultaneously apply a driving voltage DV to theeighth through tenth rows R8 through R10 with respect to the thirdcandidate position data CPD3 and the fourth candidate position dataCPD4.

For example, after the drivers DRV respectively connected to the secondthrough fourth rows R2 through R4 simultaneously apply a driving voltageDV to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4, the drivers DRVconnected to the second through fourth rows R2 through R4 maysimultaneously apply a driving voltage DV to the second through fourthrows R4.

In response to the column information Cinf received from the candidateposition data processing unit 144_2, the amplifying unit 144_6 of thesecond detection unit 144 may receive a sensing value SEN that isaccumulated during a period corresponding to the number of columnsincluded in each column group. For example, the amplifying unit 144_6may receive a sensing value SEN from the first column group (C4 throughC6) during three periods TD, and then may receive a sensing value SENfrom the second column group (C10 through C12) during (another) threeperiods TD. The amplifying units AMP of the first column group (C4through C6) may sequentially or simultaneously receive a sensing valueSEN from a connected column, and the amplifying units AMP of the secondcolumn group (C10 through C12) may sequentially or simultaneouslyreceive a sensing value SEN from a connected column. Thus, byaccumulating the sensing values SEN received from the columns, a moreaccurate sensing operation may be performed for the same amount of timeand using the same resources.

While an example embodiment in which the second detection unit 144simultaneously activates only an amplifying unit with respect to some ofthe columns indicated by the candidate position data CPD is described,the amplifying unit with respect to all columns indicated by thecandidate position data CPD may also be simultaneously activated.

FIG. 18 illustrates a signal processing unit 144_8 of the seconddetection unit 144 of FIG. 12 according to an example embodiment ofinventive concepts. FIG. 19 is a diagram to explain an operation of thesignal processing unit 144_8 of FIG. 18 according to an embodiment ofthe inventive concept. First, referring to FIGS. 12 and 18, as describedabove, the signal processing unit 144_8 may compare an output valueOUT_C with respect to candidate position data CPD indicating the samerow or the same row group to select touch position data TPD. To thisend, the signal processing unit 144_8 may include a comparing unit144_82 and a selecting unit 144_84.

The comparing unit 144_82 may perform a comparing operation by receivingan output value OUT_C with respect to candidate position data CPDindicating the same row or the same row group. In regard to the exampleof FIG. 13A, the comparing unit 144_82 may compare output values OUT_Cwith respect to the first candidate position data CPD1 and the secondcandidate position data CPD2 indicating the second through fourth rowsR2 through R4. The output value OUT_C with respect to the firstcandidate position data CPD1 may be a sum SUM1 of output values OUT_C ofthe fourth through sixth columns C4 through C6 represented by the firstcandidate position data CPD1. Likewise, the output value OUT_C withrespect to the second candidate position data CPD2 may be a sum SUM1 ofoutput values OUT_C of the tenth through twelfth columns C10 through C12represented by the second candidate position data CPD2.

Referring to FIG. 19, the output value OUT_C with respect to the firstcandidate position data CPD1 may be a first value VAL1, and the outputvalue OUT_C with respect to the second candidate value CPD2 may be asecond value VAL2. While FIG. 19 illustrates an operation of the signalprocessing unit 144_8 regarding the example of the second detection unit144, the second detection unit 144 may also operate in the same mannerwith respect to FIGS. 14 through 16 or the like.

Also, with respect to the example of FIG. 13A, the comparing unit 144_82compares output values OUT_C with respect to the third candidateposition data CPD3 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4indicating the eighth through tenth rows R8 through R10. The outputvalue OUT_C with respect to the fourth candidate position data CPD4 maybe a sum SUM2 of output values OUT_C of the fourth through sixth columnsC4 through C6 indicated by the third candidate position data CPD3.Likewise, the output value OUT_C with respect to the fourth candidateposition data CPD4 may be a sum SUM2 of the tenth through twelfth C10through C12 represented by the fourth candidate position data CPD4.Referring to FIG. 19, the output value OUT_C with respect to the thirdcandidate position data CPD3 may be a third value VAL3, and the outputvalue OUT_C with respect to the fourth candidate value CPD4 may be afourth value VAL4.

The comparing unit 144_82 may compare the first value VAL1 and thesecond value VAL2 and compare the third value VAL3 and the fourth valueVAL4 to output a comparison result CRST. With respect to the example ofFIG. 19, the comparing unit 144_82 may output a comparison result CRSTindicating that the second value VAL2 is greater than the first valueVAL1 and the third value VAL3 is greater than the fourth value VAL4.

In response to the comparison result CRST, the selecting unit 144_84 mayselect touch position data TPD indicating a position of an actuallygenerated hovering from the candidate position data CPD. For example,based on the comparison result CRST indicating that the second valueVAL2 is greater than the first value VAL1, the selecting unit 144_84 mayselect the first candidate position data CPD1, from among the firstcandidate position data CPD1 and the second candidate position dataCPD2, as the touch position data TPD. Also, based on the comparisonresult CRST indicating that the third value VAL3 is greater than thefourth value VAL3, the selecting unit 144_84 may select the thirdcandidate position data CPD3, from among the third candidate positiondata CPD3 and the fourth candidate position data CPD4, as the touchposition data TPD.

As described above, as a magnetic field generated between the twoelectrodes of FIG. 3 decreases by a hovering or a contact touch, acharge amount in a column where the hovering or the contact touch isgenerated may decrease. Accordingly, an output value of the column inwhich the hovering or the contact touch is generated may be smaller thanan output value of a column where a hovering or a contact touch is notgenerated.

Above described is the operation of the second detection unit 144 ofFIG. 12 with respect to the candidate position data CPD of FIG. 13A.Here, the candidate position data CPD of FIG. 13A, that is, the firstthrough fourth candidate position data CPD1 through CPD4 are data withrespect to an area of the same size. In other words, the first throughfourth candidate position data CPD1 through CPD4 of FIG. 13A representdata about an intersection area having the same number of rows and thesame number of columns. However, the embodiments of the inventiveconcept are not limited thereto.

FIG. 20 illustrates candidate position data different from that of FIG.13A, according to another example embodiment of inventive concepts.Referring to FIGS. 1 and 20, the first through fourth candidate positiondata CPD1 through CPD4 may respectively represent data regardingdifferent areas. For example, in FIG. 20, the first candidate positiondata CPD1 may be data representing an intersection area of three rows(second through fourth rows R2 through R4) and three columns (fourththrough sixth columns C4 through C6), whereas the fourth candidateposition data CPD4 may be data representing an intersection area of tworows (eighth and ninth rows R8 and R9) and three columns (tenth throughtwelfth columns C10 through C12).

The intersection areas above may be varied according to a difference insurface areas of hoverings that are generated at a distanceperpendicularly spaced apart from the touch screen panel 120, forexample, according to a difference in surface areas of hoveringsaccording to an inclination between the fingers of a person who performsa hovering and the touch screen panel 120. Also, in regard to candidateposition data with respect to a ghost, candidate position data withrespect to an actual hovering and an area indicating the data may varyin size due to, for example, a detection capability of the firstdetection unit 142.

FIG. 21 illustrates a second detection unit 144 that is adaptive to thecandidate position data of FIG. 20, according to an example embodimentof inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21, the seconddetection unit 144 of FIG. 21 may include, like the second detectionunit 144 of FIG. 12, the candidate position data processing unit 144_2,a driving unit 144_4, amplifying unit 144_6, and a signal processingunit 144_8. The candidate position data processing unit 144_2 receivescandidate position data CPD from the first detection unit 142. Also, thecandidate position data processing unit 144_2 may provide the drivingunit 144_4 with row information Rinf of the sensing array SARYcorresponding to the candidate position data CPD and column informationCinf of the sensing array SARY corresponding to the candidate positiondata CPD. The driving unit 144_4 and the amplifying unit 144_6 operatein a multi-touch mode. In detail, a driving voltage DV is applied to arow of the sensing array SARY by using the driving unit 144_4, and achange in capacitance, which is generated between the sensing unit SU ofthe corresponding row and an adjacent sensing unit SU, by the drivingvoltage DV applied to the row, is transferred to the amplifying unit144_6 through a column of the corresponding row.

Furthermore, the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 21 may furtherinclude a first control unit 211. The first control unit 211 may receiverow information Rinf and column information Cinf from the candidateposition data processing unit 144_2 to thereby determine a size of anarea represented by each piece of candidate position data CPD, that is,the number of rows and the number of columns. The first control unit 211generates a first control signal based on the number of rows or thenumber of columns indicated by each piece of candidate position dataCPD. The first control signal XCON1 is transmitted to the driving unit144_4 or the amplifying unit 144_6.

In response to the first control signal XCON1, the driving unit 144_4 orthe amplifying unit 144_6 may perform an additional driving oramplifying operation with respect to each piece of candidate positiondata CPD. For example, in response to the first control signal XCON1,the driving unit 144_4 or the amplifying unit 144_6 may vary the numberof rows or columns that are simultaneously activated as illustrated inFIG. 15 or 16, according to a size of an area represented by each pieceof candidate position data CPD. Alternatively, for example, theamplifying unit 144_6 may vary a period in which the sensing value SENis accumulated, as illustrated in FIG. 17, according to a size of anarea represented by each piece of candidate position data CPD.

Above described is an example embodiment in which the first detectionunit 142 and the second detection unit 144 are implemented as separatecircuits. However, this structure is merely provided to clearly describethe concept of the operation of the touch controller 140 according toinventive concepts. That is, each of the rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn andeach of the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY of FIG.13A may be in any structure in which the operation of the firstdetection unit 142 of FIG. 7A and the operation of the second detectionunit 144 of FIG. 7A may be selectively performed.

FIG. 22 illustrates a touch controller 140 having a structure in whichthe first detection unit and the second detection unit of FIG. 1 arecommonly included. FIG. 23 is a detailed view illustrating a drivingunit and an amplifying unit of FIG. 22. Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23,the touch controller 140 may include a second control unit 212, a commondriving unit 222, a common amplifying unit 224, a common signalprocessing unit 226, and a candidate position data processing unit144_2. In response to a clock signal CLK, the second control unit 212may generate a second control signal XCON2 through which the commondriving unit 222, the common amplifying unit 224, and the common signalprocessing unit 226 are controlled.

For example, the second control unit 212 may generate a second controlsignal XCON2 so that the touch controller 140 operates like the firstdetection unit 142 of FIG. 1 in a first period of the clock signal CLK.For example, the second control unit 212 may control the common drivingunit 222, the common amplifying unit 224, and the common signalprocessing unit 226 so that they operate in a first mode (e.g., a singletouch mode) in a first section of the clock signal CLK to therebygenerate candidate position data CPD. Also, the second control unit 212may generate a second control signal XCON2 so that the touch controller140 operates like the second detection unit 144 of FIG. 1 in a secondsection of the clock signal CLK. For example, the second control unit212 may control the common driving unit 222, the common amplifying unit224, and the common signal processing unit 226 so that they operate in asecond mode (e.g., a multi-touch mode) with respect to candidateposition data CPD in the second section of the clock signal CLK tothereby generate touch position data TPD.

The first and second sections of the clock signal CLK may be set suchthat they are alternately generated. The first and second sections ofthe clock signal CLK may be set at different times.

As illustrated in FIG. 23, the common driving unit 222 and the commonamplifying unit 224 may be respectively connected to each row and eachcolumn of the sensing array SARY. The common driving unit 222 outputs aprimary driving voltage DV_1^(st) regarding a single touch mode and asecondary driving voltage DV_2^(nd) regarding a multi-touch mode inregard to processing touch position data TPD with respect toconcurrently generated multiple hoverings. In regard to processing touchposition data TPD with respect to concurrently generated multiplehoverings, the common amplifying unit 224 receives a primary sensingvalue SEN_1^(st) with respect to a single touch mode and a secondarysensing value SEN_2^(nd) with respect to a multi-touch mode. A detailedstructure and a detailed operation of the common driving unit 222 andthe common amplifying unit 224 are similar to those of FIG. 7A or FIG.13A described above, and thus description thereof is omitted. Thedifference is simply that in order for the touch controller 140 toperform an operation of the second detection unit 144 described above,the common amplifying unit 224 connected to each row and the commondriving unit 222 connected to each column may be inactivated in responseto the second control signal XCON2.

In response to the second control signal XCON2, the common signalprocessing unit 226 may output candidate position data CPD in the samemanner as the first detection unit 142 described above, in the firstsection of a clock signal CLK. Also, in response to the second controlsignal XCON2, the common signal processing unit 226 may output touchposition data TPD in the same manner as the second detection unit 144 inthe second section of the clock signal CLK.

Above described is a touch screen panel that processes multi-hovering,that is, a plurality of hoverings. However, as described above, a singlehovering may also be generated with respect to the touch screen panel120. This will be described below.

FIG. 24 illustrates the touch controller 140 of FIG. 1 according toanother example embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 24,the touch controller 140 may include a first detection unit 142, asecond detection unit 144, and a third control unit 213. When at leasttwo hoverings are generated with respect to the touch screen panel 120,the first detection unit 142 detects an electrical change ECG of thetouch sensor 122 in a first mode as multiple pieces of candidateposition data CPD with respect to each hovering. The second detectionunit 144 may detect an electrical change in an area of the touch sensor122 corresponding to multiple pieces of candidate position data CPD in asecond mode that is different from the first mode to thereby selecttouch position data TPD with respect to at least two hoverings fromamong the multiple pieces of the candidate position data CPD. Asdescribed above, the first mode may be a single touch mode with a highersensing sensitivity with respect to a hovering than the second mode, andthe second mode may be a multi-touch mode in which a large number oftouches may be sensed at a time, that is, multiple concurrent touchesmay be sensed. This applies also below.

The third control unit 213 may count the number of pieces of candidateposition data CPD generated by using the first detection unit 142, andif there is one piece of candidate position data CPD, the third controlunit 213 may generate a third control signal XCON3. The second detectionunit 144 may be inactivated in response to the third control signalXCON3. Also, if a single hovering is generated, the third control unit213 does not have to remove a ghost, and thus the third control unit 213may output candidate position data CPD as touch position data TPD. Asdescribed above, the first detection unit 142 and the second detectionunit 144 of the touch controller 140 are simply distinguished byfunctions and may not be physically separated. This also applies to thethird control unit 213.

Above described is the touch controller 140 that processes a hovering.However, example embodiments of the inventive concept are not limitedthereto. The touch sensing device 100 may also process a contact touch.This will be described below.

FIG. 25 illustrates the touch sensor 122 of FIG. 1 according to anotherembodiment of the inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 25, the touchcontroller 140 may include a first detection unit 142, a seconddetection unit 144, and a fourth control unit 214. When at least twohoverings are generated with respect to the touch screen panel 120, thefirst detection unit 142 detects an electrical change ECG of the touchsensor 122 in a single touch mode as multiple pieces of candidateposition data CPD with respect to the respective hoverings. The seconddetection unit 144 may detect an electrical change in an area of thetouch sensor 122 corresponding to the multiple pieces of candidateposition data CPD in a multi-touch mode to thereby select touch positiondata TPD with respect to at least two hoverings from among the multiplepieces of candidate position data CPD.

The fourth control unit 214 may determine whether a touch generated inthe touch screen panel 120 is a hovering or a contact touch to therebygenerate a fourth control signal XCON4. For example, when a sensingvalue SEN sensed using the touch sensor 122 is equal to or greater thana first size, the fourth control unit 214 may determine that a hoveringis generated, and generate a fourth control signal XCON4 as a firstvalue. On the other hand, when a sensing value SEN sensed using thetouch sensor 122 is smaller than the first size, the fourth control unit214 may determine that a contact touch is generated, and generate afourth control signal XCON4 as a second value. As an electrical changeby a hovering and by a contact touch varies (for example, a change in amagnetic field of FIG. 3 by a hovering is smaller than that by a contacttouch), in the case of a hovering or a contact touch, the first size maybe set based on a statistical value of the sensing value SEN.

The first detection unit 142 and the second detection unit 144 may eachgenerate candidate position data CPD described above and touch positiondata TPD based on the candidate position data CPD in response to thefourth control value XCON4 of the first value. On the other hand, thefirst detection unit 142 may be inactivated in response to the fourthcontrol signal XCON4 of the second value. Also, in response to thefourth control signal XCON4 of the second value, the second detectionunit 144 may apply a driving voltage DV to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rnof the sensing array SARY and receive a sensing value SEN from allcolumns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY.

That is, in response to the fourth control signal XCON4 of the secondvalue, when a contact touch is generated, the second detection unit 144may immediately generate touch position data TPD with respect to acontact touch in a multi-touch mode without generating candidateposition data CPD. Since a sensing sensitivity required for a contacttouch is relatively low compared to a hovering, a single touch mode witha high sensing sensitivity required with respect to a hovering may nothave to be performed. Thus, sensing may be immediately performed in amulti-touch mode for a contact touch in order to reduce powerconsumption.

As described above, the first detection unit 142 and the seconddetection unit 144 of the touch controller 140 may be merelydistinguished according to functions as described above, and may not bephysically separated. The same applies to the fourth control unit 214.For example, the fourth control unit 214 may share a physical structureof the second detection unit 144 to receive a sensing value SEN from thetouch screen panel 120.

FIG. 26 illustrates the touch sensor 122 of FIG. 1 according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 26, thetouch controller 140 may include a first detection unit 142, a seconddetection unit 144, a fourth control unit 214, and a fifth control unit215. The first detection unit 142, the second detection unit 144, andthe fourth control unit 214 may be the same as the first detection unit142, the second detection unit 144, and the fourth control unit 214 ofFIG. 25, respectively.

Accordingly, when a hovering is generated with respect to the touchscreen panel 120, the fourth control unit 214 may generate a fourthcontrol signal XCON4 of a first value, and when a contact touch isgenerated with respect to the touch screen panel 120, the fourth controlunit 214 may generate a fourth control signal XCON4 of a second value.In response to the fourth control signal XCON4 of the first value, thefirst detection unit 142 and the second detection unit 144 may generatecandidate position data CPD described above and touch position data TPDbased on the candidate position data CPD. On the other hand, the firstdetection unit 142 may be inactivated in response to the fourth controlsignal XCON4 of the second value. Also, in response to the fourthcontrol signal XCON4 of the second value, the second detection unit 144may apply a driving voltage DV to all rows R1, R2, . . . , Rn of thesensing array SARY of, for example, FIG. 2, and receive a sensing valueSEN from all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY,thereby generating touch position data TPD with respect to a contacttouch in a multi-touch mode.

In response to the fourth control signal XCON4, the fifth control unit215 may generate a fifth control signal XCON5 through which an operatingperiod is differently set according to whether the second detection unit144 processes a hovering or a contact touch. For example, in response tothe fifth control signal XCON5, when the second detection unit 144processes a hovering, the second detection unit 144 may apply a drivingvoltage DC to a row of FIG. 14 or may set a longer period in which asensing value SEN is received from a column of FIG. 14 than a period inthe case when processing a contact touch. Accordingly, as a sensingvalue SEN is received for a relatively long period for a hovering, therequirement for a relatively high sensing sensitivity may be fulfilled.Also, in the case of a contact touch, sensing accuracy thereof isrelatively high, and thus, a sensing value SEN may be reduced within arelatively short time, thereby reducing power consumption.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 27, the methodincludes operating in a hovering mode (operation S2710), determiningwhether a hovering is detected (operation S2720), and if a hovering isgenerated (“YES” of operation S2720), extracting touch position dataincluding a ghost with respect to the hovering, in a single touch mode(operation S2730). Thus, the candidate position data CPD of FIG. 1 maybe generated. Next, the method includes removing a ghost from the touchposition data in a multi-touch mode based on the touch position dataextracted in a single touch mode (operation S2740) and processing thetouch position data from which the ghost is removed, as position datawith respect to the hovering (operation S2750).

In the touch sensing method, if no hovering is generated (“NO” ofoperation S2720), the method may be on standby while in a hovering mode.The hovering mode may be set by using the fourth control unit 214 ofFIG. 25 described above. The touch sensing method of FIG. 27 may beperformed in the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1 or the like. Forexample, the touch sensing method of FIG. 27 may be performed under acontrol by a processor of an electronic device in which the touchsensing device 100 of FIG. 1 or the like is included. This also appliesto a sensing method described below.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts. The touch sensing method ofFIG. 28 is similar to the touch sensing method of FIG. 27 except thatthe method may further include counting the number of pieces ofcandidate position data (operation S2760) after performing sensing in asingle touch mode (operation S2730). If there is more than one piece ofcandidate position data (“YES” of operation S2760), like FIG. 27,removing a ghost by performing a sensing operation in a multi-touch mode(operation S2740) and generating touch position data (operation S2750)may be performed. However, if there is one piece of candidate positiondata (“NO” of operation S2760), the removing of a ghost by performing asensing operation in a multi-touch mode (operation S2740) may be omittedbut generating the candidate position data as touch position data(operation S2750) may be performed instead.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart of a touch sensing method according to anotherexample embodiment of inventive concepts. The touch sensing method ofFIG. 29 is similar to the touch sensing method of FIG. 27 except thatthe method may further include, before operating in a hovering mode(operation S2710), setting a touch mode (operation S2770) anddetermining a hovering mode (operation S2780). As described above, atouch mode indicates either a mode for sensing a hovering or a mode forsensing a contact touch. Setting of a touch mode may be performed usinga processor of an electronic device in which the touch sensing device100 of FIG. 1 or the like is included. Alternatively, a touch mode maybe internally set with respect to the touch controller 140 by using thefourth control unit 214 of FIG. 25 described above. For example, thefourth control unit 214 of FIG. 25 may alternately set a hovering modeand a contact touch mode in synchronization with a clock signal CLK.

When a hovering mode is determined (“YES” of operation S2780), touchposition data is generated using the touch sensing method of FIG. 27. Onthe other hand, if a contact touch mode is determined instead of ahovering mode (“NO” of operation S2780), as illustrated in FIG. 25described above, a single touch mode may not be performed but touchposition data may be generated in a multi-touch mode in operation S2790.

FIG. 30 illustrates a display device 3000 according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 30, thedisplay device 3000 according to the current embodiment of the inventiveconcept may include a touch sensing device 100, a display panel 3020, adisplay driving unit 3040, and a host controller 3060. The touch sensingdevice 100 may be the touch sensing device 100 of FIG. 1. The touchsensing device 100 may detect a position of a touch generated withrespect to the touch screen panel 120 as touch position data TPD byusing the touch controller 140. The touch controller 140 controls anoperation of the touch sensing device 100. For example, the touchcontroller 140 may apply a driving voltage to all rows R1, R2, . . . ,Rn and all columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of the sensing array SARY in asingle touch mode, and may receive a sensing value SEN from all of therows R1, R2, . . . , Rn and all of the columns C1, C2, . . . , Cm of thesensing array SARY to thereby detect candidate position data CPD.Alternatively, the touch controller 140 may apply, in a multi-touchmode, a driving voltage to a row of the sensing array SARY with respectto the candidate position data CPD and receive a sensing value SEN froma column of the sensing array SARY with respect to the candidateposition data CPD to thereby detect touch position data TPD.

The touch controller 140 may receive at least one piece of timinginformation used in driving the display panel 3020, and use the at leastone piece of timing information in an operation of generating touchposition data. The timing information may be generated from the timingcontroller 3042 in the driving unit 3040, and also, the timinginformation may be directly generated from the host controller 3060. Thetouch controller 140 may perform the above operation according to timinginformation. For example, the touch controller 140 may use timinginformation as a clock signal CLK of FIG. 22 or the like.

The display panel 3020 displays an image. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6 above, the display panel 3020 and the touch screen panel 120 may be anOn-Cell type or an In-Cell type. The display driving unit 3040 mayinclude a timing controller 3042, a gate driver 3044, and a sourcedriver 3046 for displaying an image on the display panel 3020. Thetiming controller 3042 generates at least one signal for adjusting atiming of a display operation; for example, the timing controller 3042may immediately receive a vertical synchronization signal Vsync and ahorizontal synchronization signal Hsync from the host controller 3060 ormay generate a vertical synchronization signal Vsync and a horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync based on a data enable signal (not shown)provided by using the host controller 3060. The vertical synchronizationsignal Vsync and the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync may be usedas timing signals described above. Also, at least one timing signal maybe generated to control generation of a common electrode voltage (e.g.,a VCOM voltage) and a gate line signal. The gate driver 3044 and thesource driver 3046 respectively drive a gate and a source of the displaypanel 3020 under control of the timing controller 3042.

The host controller 3060 transmits a timing signal to the touchcontroller 140 and the timing controller 3042 to control the overalloperation of the display device 3000. Also, the touch controller 140generates touch position data TPD above, the host controller 3060 mayreceive a sensing value SEN from the touch controller 140 to generatethe same as touch position data TPD.

FIG. 31 illustrates a relationship between a timing and a power voltagebetween the touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040 ofFIG. 30. As illustrated in FIG. 31, a semiconductor chip 3100 fordriving the display device 3000 may include the touch controller 140 andthe display driving unit 3040, and the touch controller 140 and thedisplay driving unit 3040 may transmit or receive at least one piece ofinformation such as timing information and status information, to andfrom each other. Also, the touch controller 140 and the display drivingunit 3040 may supply or receive a power voltage to or from each other.The touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040 are brieflyillustrated in FIG. 31 for convenience of description, and an analogfront end (AFE) included in the touch controller 140 may be a blockincluding a voltage reading circuit, an amplification circuit, anintegration circuit, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC).

According to the display device 3000, the touch controller 140 providesthe display driving unit 3040 with sleep state information. Also, anexample embodiment in which a power voltage used in the touch controller140 is provided by using the display driving unit 3040 will be describedbelow.

When a screen is turned off and an touch input is not provided (when thetouch controller and the display driver are both in a sleep state), thedisplay driving unit 3040 blocks a power voltage or timing informationfrom being provided to the touch controller 140. In this case, thedisplay driving unit 3040 may maintains only a register statethereinside as a previous state. In this case, power consumption may beminimized. Meanwhile, if a touch input is blocked and only the displayoperation is activated (when the touch controller is in a sleep stateand the display driver is in a normal state), the display driving unit3040 may generate a power voltage for self consumption but the touchcontroller 140 does not consume power and thus does not provide a powervoltage to the touch controller 140. Also, the display driving unit 3040does not provide timing information to the touch controller 140.

Meanwhile, if a touch input is activated but a display is inactivated(TSC is in a normal state and Display is in a sleep mode), as a touchinput is activated, whether a touching operation is periodicallyperformed is checked. In this case, the display driving unit 3040operates in a low consumption mode to maintain an inactivated state.However, to check a touching operation, the display driving unit 3040may generate a power voltage used in the touch controller 140 andprovides the power voltage to the touch controller 140. Meanwhile, whena touch input and a display are both activated (the touch controller andthe display driver are both in a normal state), the display driving unit3040 may generate timing information and a power voltage, and providesthe timing information and the power voltage to the touch controller140.

A power voltage generating unit of the display driving unit 3040 maygenerate a power voltage if at least one of the touch controller 140 andthe display driving unit 3040 is activated. Also, a control logic of thedisplay driving unit 3040 may generate timing information only when thetouch controller 140 operates and provide the timing information to thetouch controller 140. The control logic of the display driving unit 3040may include the timing controller 3042.

FIG. 32 illustrates a printed circuit board (PCB) structure of a displaydevice 3200 mounted with a touch screen panel 120 according to anexample embodiment of inventive concepts. The display device 3200 ofFIG. 32 has a structure in which the touch screen panel 120 and thedisplay panel 3020 are distinguished. As illustrated in FIG. 32, thedisplay device 3200 may include a window glass 3210, a touch screenpanel 120, and a display panel 3020. Also, a polarization plate 3230 maybe further disposed between the touch screen panel 120 and the displaypanel 3020 to enhance optical characteristics of the display device3200.

The window glass 3210 is typically formed of an acryl or a temperedglass to thereby protect a module including the display panel 3020 fromexternal impacts or scratches due to repetitive touches. The touchscreen panel 120 may be formed by patterning an electrode using a glasssubstrate or a transparent electrode such as an indium tin oxide (ITO)on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The touch controller 140 may bemounted in the form of a chip on board (COB) on a flexible printedcircuit board (FPCB), and may sense a change in capacitance from eachelectrode to extract touch coordinates and provide the touch coordinatesto a host controller. The display panel 3020 is typically formed bybonding two sheets of glasses which are included as an upper plate and alower plate. Also, the display driving unit 3040 is typically attachedon a display panel for a mobile device in the form of a chip on glass(COG).

FIG. 33 illustrates a PCB structure in which a touch screen panel and adisplay panel are integrated. As illustrated in FIG. 33, the displaydevice 3300 may include a window glass 3210, a display panel 3320, and apolarization plate 3230. When implementing a touch screen panel, thetouch screen panel is not formed on a separate glass substrate but thetouch screen panel may be formed by patterning a transparent electrodeon an upper plate of the display panel 3320. FIG. 33 illustrates anexample embodiment in which a plurality of sensing units SU are formedon the upper plate of the display panel 3320. Also, when a panelstructure as described above is formed, a semiconductor chip 3100 inwhich a touch controller and a display driving unit are integrated maypreferably be applied.

When the touch controller 140 and the display driving unit 3040 areintegrated on the one semiconductor chip 3100 as illustrated in FIG. 32,a voltage signal T_sig from the sensing unit SU and image data I_datafrom an external host are provided to the semiconductor chip 3100. Also,the semiconductor chip 3100 processes the image data I_data to generategradation data for driving an actual display device and provides thegradation data to a display panel. To this end, the semiconductor chip3100 may include a pad related to touch data T_data and a pad related tothe image data I_data and gradation data (not shown). The semiconductorchip 3100 receives a voltage signal T_sig from a sensing unit through aconductive line connected to a first side of the touch screen panel.When arranging pads on the semiconductor chip 3100, in regard toreduction in noise of data a position of a pad that receives the voltagesignal T_sig may preferably be arranged adjacent to a conductive linethrough which the voltage signal T_sig is transmitted.

While not illustrated in FIG. 33, when a conductive line through whichgradation data is to be provided to a display panel is disposed oppositeto the conductive line through which the touch data voltage signalT_sig, a pad for providing the gradation data may also be disposedopposite to the pad that receives the voltage signal T_sig.

FIG. 34 illustrates a display device mounted with a semiconductor chipincluding a touch controller and a display driving unit, according to anexample embodiment of inventive concepts. In FIG. 34, a semiconductorchip is disposed on a glass of a display panel in the form of a chip onglass (COG), and in FIG. 34, the semiconductor chip is disposed on afilm of a display panel in the form of a chip on film (COF). When atouch controller and a display driving unit are disposed as differentchips, the touch controller may typically be disposed as a COF and thedisplay driving unit may be typically disposed as a COG but thesemiconductor chip in which the touch controller and the display drivingunit a may be disposed either in the form of the COG or COF.

FIG. 35 illustrates various application examples of electronic productsincluding the touch sensing device 100 according to an exampleembodiment of inventive concepts. Referring to FIG. 35, the touchsensing device 100 may be applied in various electronic products. Forexample, the touch sensing device 100 may be widely used in variouselectronic devices such as a mobile phone, a TV, an automatic tellermachine (ATM) of banks that enables automatic cash input and withdrawal,an elevator, a ticket issuing machine for subways, a portable multimediaplayer (PMP), an e-book, a navigation device, or an electronicblackboard.

While inventive concepts have been particularly shown and described withreference to example embodiments thereof, it will be understood thatvarious changes in form and details may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A display device comprising: a touch screen panel including aplurality of sensing units; and a touch controller configured: to detectfirst sensing values of the plurality of sensing units using a firsttouch sensing method when the display device is in a first mode; todetect second sensing values of the plurality of sensing units using asecond touch sensing method when the display device is in the firstmode; and to detect third sensing values of the plurality of sensingunits using the second touch sensing method when the display device isin a second mode different from the first mode, wherein the first touchsensing method is different from the second touch sensing method
 2. Thedisplay device of the claim 1, wherein the second sensing method is amutual capacitance method.
 3. The display device of the claim 1, whereinthe touch controller is configured to periodically check the touchscreen panel whether a touch input is made.
 4. The display device of theclaim 3, wherein the display device further comprises a display drivingunit, and wherein the touch controller is configured to periodicallycheck whether the touch input is made when the display driving unit isin a sleep state.
 5. The display device of the claim 3, wherein thetouch controller is further configured to simultaneously apply a drivingvoltage to at least two of a plurality of sensing electrodes connectedto the plurality of sensing units.
 6. The display device of the claim 3,wherein the touch controller is further configured to apply a drivingvoltage to a plurality of sensing electrodes connected to the pluralityof sensing units row by row.
 7. The display device of the claim 3,wherein the touch controller is further configured to apply a drivingvoltage to a plurality of sensing electrodes connected to the pluralityof sensing units column by column.
 8. The display device of the claim 3,wherein the first touch sensing method is a self-capacitance method. 9.The display device of the claim 3, wherein the touch controller includesa driving and amplifying unit, and the driving and amplifying unit isconfigured to apply a first driving voltage to a plurality of sensingelectrodes connected to the plurality of sensing units, and configuredto apply a second driving voltage to the plurality of sensingelectrodes.
 10. The display device of the claim 9, wherein the drivingand amplifying unit is further configured to receive the first sensingvalues of the plurality of sensing units in response to the firstdriving voltage, and configured to receive the second sensing values ofthe plurality of the sensing units in response to the second drivingvoltage.
 11. A touch controller comprising: a driving and amplifyingunit comprising a negative input and a positive input, the driving andamplifying unit being configured: to apply a first driving voltage to aplurality of sensing electrodes in a first mode; to apply a seconddriving voltage to the plurality of sensing electrodes in a second modedifferent from the first mode; to receive first sensing values of aplurality of sensing units connected to the plurality of the sensingelectrodes in response to the first driving voltage; and to receivesecond sensing values of the plurality of the sensing units in responseto the second driving voltage, wherein the driving and amplifying unitis configured to apply the first driving voltage to the negative input,and configured to receive the first sensing value from the negativeinput.
 12. The touch controller of claim 11, wherein the driving andamplifying unit is further configured to detect the first sensing valuesusing a first touch sensing method in the first mode, and configured todetect the second sensing values using a second touch sensing methoddifferent from the first touch sensing method in the second mode. 13.The touch controller of claim 12, wherein the first sensing method is aself-capacitance method, and the second sensing method is a mutualcapacitance method.
 14. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein thedriving and amplifying unit is further configured to simultaneouslyapply the second driving voltage to at least two of the plurality of thesensing electrodes.
 15. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein thedriving and amplifying unit is further configured to apply the seconddriving voltage to the plurality of the sensing electrodes row by row.16. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the driving and amplifyingunit is further configured to apply the second driving voltage to theplurality of the sensing electrodes column by column.
 17. The touchcontroller of claim 13, wherein the driving and amplifying unit isfurther configured to apply the second driving voltage to a portion ofthe plurality of the sensing electrodes based on the first sensingvalue.
 18. The touch controller of claim 13, wherein the touchcontroller is further configured to periodically check whether a touchinput is made when a display panel is turned off.
 19. A touch controllercomprising: a driving unit configured to apply a first driving voltageto a plurality of sensing electrodes connected to a plurality of sensingunits in a first mode, and configured to apply a second driving voltageto the plurality of the sensing electrodes in a second mode that isdifferent from the first mode; and an amplifying unit configured toreceive first sensing values and second sensing values from theplurality of the sensing units, wherein the driving unit is configuredto apply the first and second driving voltages to the negative input.20. The touch controller of claim 19, wherein the driving unit isfurther configured to detect the first sensing values using aself-capacitance method in the first mode, and configured to detect thesecond sensing values using a mutual capacitance method in the secondmode.